President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella has designated Paola Holguín as the Minister of Culture for his upcoming administration [1].
The appointment signals a shift in the leadership of Colombia's cultural sector, placing a former senator from the right-wing Centro Democrático party at the helm of national arts and heritage policy.
Holguín was named to the position on Friday, July 17, 2026 [1]. De la Espriella said she is a "warrior woman" and outlined a broad mandate for her tenure in the ministry [3].
According to the president-elect, Holguín is tasked with supporting creators regardless of their political affiliations and dignifying the professional work of artists [2]. De la Espriella said her mission is to strengthen public engagement and transform culture into a driver of national pride and development [2].
"The culture is the memory of a people," de la Espriella said [3].
However, the appointment has already drawn criticism from progressive sectors. Guillermo Rivera, a former interior minister, said the designation is "sectarian" [4].
Holguín previously served as a senator for the Centro Democrático, a party known for its conservative platform. Her transition from the legislative branch to the executive cabinet comes as the incoming government prepares to implement its policy agenda for the country [5].
De la Espriella said the goal is to ensure that the ministry provides opportunities for all creators without political distinctions [2].
“"The culture is the memory of a people"”
The appointment of Paola Holguín represents a strategic alignment between the president-elect and the Centro Democrático party. By selecting a figure with a known conservative legislative background, de la Espriella is signaling a departure from previous cultural administrations. The immediate backlash from former officials suggests that the ministry may become a focal point for political tension between progressive artistic communities and the new government's conservative framework.
